Gas-producer.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

H. GERDES.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1906.

2 gHEETS-SHEET 1.

1n: Remus prrsns cm, WASHINGYON, n. c,

PATENTED MAR. 24:, 1908.

H. GERDES.

GAS PRODUCER.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES rm: NORRIS pzrzns co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH GERDES, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, AS SIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OLDS GAS POWER COMPANY, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

GAS-PRODUCER.

Original application filed July 31, 1905, Serial No. 272,057.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 332,954.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnmmcn GERDEs, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Producers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to gas producers, more particularly of the suction type, and it is the object of the invention to obtain a con-' struction which is particularly adapted for the use of fuels containing a large amount of volatile matter, such for instance as various grades of bituminous coal.

It is further the object to produce a gas from such fuels which is free from tars and other condensable matter, this being highly desirable where the producer is used in connection with an explosion engine.

To this end, the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section front elevation of the producer; Rig. 2 is a side elevation, one half being in central longitudinal section; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the producer.

My improved apparatus is particularly adapted. for the carrying out of the novel process of producing gas which forms the subject matter of the applicants prior Patent N 0. 827,862. This process consists in first heating the fuel within a retort to distiltherefrom the volatile matter; second, burning the distilled gases to convert the same into carbon dioxid and water vapor; third, passing the products thus obtained. through an incandescent mass of fuel from which the volatile matter has previously been expelled. The effect of this process is to destroy all of the hydrocarbons and other condensable volatile matter originally contained in the fuel by the complete combustion of the same and then to decompose the products of com bustion obtaining as a final result a mixture of carbon monoxid, hydrogen and nitrogen. All of these gases are non-condensable at ordinary temperatures and pressures, and therefore a fixed gas is obtained, which is uniform in quality.

To carry out this process, myapparatus comprises a suitable casing A, having a lining of refractory material B, within which is a chamber 0 for containing the fuel. At the bottom of this chamber is a hearth D, upon which the fuel is normally su ported, and above this hearth, at the side 0 7 the chamber O, preferably opposite sides thereof, is arranged a combustion chamber E.

Communicating with the chamber C is a series of portsF, which connect with a chamber G, into which the produced gas is drawn. This chamber is formed preferably by a downwardly flaring lining I-I, within the lower portion of which is formed the distillation chamber I for driving OK the volatile matter from the fuel. At the upper end of this distillation chamber is a fuel magazine J formed by a depending annular casing within the casing H, ,and between the casings H and J is an annular chamber K for receiving the gaseous distilled matter from the fuel. Above the magazine J is a fuel charger L, through which the fuel may be introduced into the. magazine from time to time.

Connecting with the chamber K is a conduit M through which the distilled volatile matter is drawn off and conveyed to the combustion chambers E. For forcing the gas downward into the combustion chambers, I

preferably employ an ejector N, which has a steam connection 0, and a discharge conduit P branching into two conduits l and 1" leading to the opposite combustion chambers E. These conduits l. and I connect with perforated tubes Q extending transversely through the combustion chambers E and constituting gas burners, from which downwardly directed jets of gas are discharged into said combustion chambers. Adj acent to these burners are air inlet chambers R having apertures R communicating with the combustion chambers E. S are air inlet pipes communicating with the chambers R and preferably extending to outside the building in which the producer is located. S are valves or dampers for controlling the quantity of air admitted to the chambers R.

With the construction as described in operation, the fuel is introduced into the chambers C and. I through the magazine J and charger L. In starting the fire, air is forced through said chambers C and I, and out from chamber K and to this end a conduit T is connected with the chamber K which leads outside of the buildings, said conduit being provided with a controlling valve or damper D. The conduit M is also provided with a shutoff valve M. Thus the forced blast is discharged through the conduit T, the valve M being closed. After the fuel in the cham ber C reaches a state of incandescence, the valve T is closed, and the valve M opened. Steam is then admitted through the conduit 0 to the ejector with result that the distilled gases collected in the chamber K are drawn downward through the conduit M and discharged through the conduits I, I and E into the burners Q. From these burners jets of gas are forced downward into the chambers E, and being ignited will freely burn in said chambers, an abundant supply of air being provided through the air chambers R and apertures E. This will result substantially in complete combustion of the volatile matter in the fuel, the products of combustion passing into the mass of incandescent fuel supported on the hearth, and thence upward to the ports F. During the upward movement of the gas through the in candescent fuel, the carbon dioXid is reduced to carbon monoxid, and the water vapor is decomposed into hydrogen and carbon monoXid. At the same time, the necessary oxygen for supporting combustion in the incandescent mass of fuel to supply the heat from the decomposition process, is supplied through the ports R.

For removing the ashes, ash doors U are arranged in the casing A just above the hearth D. I also preferably provide temporary grate bars V, which may be inserted into the chamber C above the hearth to support the fuel therein, during the cleaning out process. These grate bars are not however used during the normal operation of the apparatus, as the heat generated by the combustion of the gas in the chambers E would burn out grate bars of any description. This difficulty I overcome by supporting the fuel directly upon the hearth and introducing the hot products of combustion through the sides of the pile.

The apparatus constructed. as described will successfully handle not only bituminous coal, but other low grades of fuel containing a large amount of volatile matter, and at the same time a gas is produced which is free from condensable matter. To insure the complete separation of the condensable gases from the produced gas, I preferably in said chamber from passing downward and commingling with the produced gas which is drawn out through the ports F.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A gas producer comprising a casing containing a chamber for the incandescent fuel, a hearth for supporting the fuel within said chamber, a combustion chamber within said casin at the side of and extending along said heart and means for burning combustible material within said combustion chamber arranged for the passage of the products of combustion therefrom through the incandescent fuel on said hearth.

2. A gas producer comprising a casing containing a chamber for incandescent fuel, a hearth for supporting the fuel within said chamber, a distillation chamber above said incandescent fuel chamber, a combustion chamber at the side of and extending along said hearth and means for drawing off the distilled gases from said distillation chamber and burning the same in said combustion chamber and for passing the products of combustion through the incandescent fuel.

3. A gas producer comprising a casing containing a chamber for incandescent fuel, a hearth for supporting the fuel within said chamber, a combustion chamber adjacent to and opening upon said hearth, a gas burner within said combustion chamber, and an air inlet adjacent to said gas burner.

4. A gas producer comprising a casing containing a chamber for incandescent fuel, a combustion chamber adjacent to the base of said chamber for incandescent fuel, and a gas burner eXtendin across said combustion chamber substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A gas producer comprising a casing containing a c amber for the incandescent fuel and a distillation chamber thereabove, a combustion chamber adjacent to the base of said incandescent fuel chamber, a gas burner therein, a conduit connecting the top of said distillation chamber with said gas burner and an ejector for propelling the distilled. gas through said conduit whereby the gas is burned in said combustion chamber and the products thereof passed through the incandescent fuel.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HEINRICH GERDES.

Witnesses:

HENRY HAsPER, IVOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

